Continuing a tradition started by Chip Malafronte in 2005, the Register ranks the top 20 minor-league prospects with Connecticut ties. There is as much talent hailing from this state as ever, and it would hardly be a shock if at least half of these players someday played in the majors, with a few emerging as stars.

One note: we’re limiting this solely to players still in the minors, so New Haven’s Josh Zeid (who was called up to Houston last month) doesn’t make the cut. And yes, we’re counting Houston as a major-league team:

20. Henry Hirsch, Univ. of New Haven, RHP (Pirates, Class-A short-season): A 22nd-round pick in June, Hirsch went 3-0 with 1.33 ERA between rookie and short-season A ball, including 2-0, 1.50 ERA with short-season Jamestown.

19. Dan Paolini, Stratford, 2B (Mariners, Double-A): Put up big power numbers for second year in a row, this time at high-A High Desert, where he hit 18 homers in 334 at-bats. Struggled mightily after promotion to Double-A, though, hitting just .185 with no homers and four RBIs in 103 at-bats.

17. Kevin Vance, UConn, RHP (White Sox, Double-A): Most of his numbers at Birmingham (2-6, 3.91 ERA, 7 saves) don’t jump out at you, except his 84 strikeouts in 69 innings pitched. Currently pitching for Barons in Southern League playoffs.

16. Jason Esposito, Bethany, 3B (Orioles, Class-A advanced): The 2011 second-round draft pick hasn’t found his way at plate yet as a pro, hitting .222 with four homers and 41 RBIs in 365 at-bats this year for Frederick.

15. Sal Romano, Southington, RHP (Reds, Class A): Big right-hander may have taken a step backwards this season, going 7-11 with a 4.86 ERA and just 89 strikeouts in 120 1/3 innings pitched for Dayton. Still, he’s just 19.

14. Jesse Hahn, Groton, RHP (Rays, Class-A advanced): Injury-prone flamethrower missed over a month with more issues but returned to pitch a scoreless inning on Aug. 31 for Charlotte. Overall was 2-1, 2.15 ERA in 20 starts this season.

12. L.J. Mazzilli, Greenwich/UConn, 2B (Mets, Class-A short-season): Son of former Met Lee Mazzilli had good first year in pros after being picked in fourth round of June draft, hitting .278 with four homers and 34 RBIs for Brooklyn while earning a spot in the New York-Penn League all-star game.

11. Thomas Milone, Monroe, OF (Rays, Class-A short-season): Rays’ third-round pick in June’s draft struggled some (.190 in 142 at-bats) in rookie league but got call-up for short-season Hudson Valley’s final three games. He hit his first pro homer in the first game and went 3-for-4 in the second.

10. Pat Dean, Naugatuck, LHP (Twins, Triple-A): Boston College product struggled much of season with New Britain (6-11, 4.68 ERA) but has been much better since promotion to Rochester, going 3-2, 2.03 ERA in six starts.

5. Greg Nappo, Madison/UConn, LHP (Marlins, Triple-A): Simply brilliant all season with Jupiter in the Florida State League, posting a 1.15 ERA in 36 relief outings and whiffing 56 in 55 frames. Jumped two levels to join New Orleans on Sept. 1 and worked two more scoreless innings of relief.

3. John Andreoli, UConn, OF (Cubs, Double-A): Hit .318 with Class-A Dayton and didn’t skip a beat since midseason promotion to Tennessee, hitting .289. Stole 40 bases between two stints and is now in same organization as cousin Daniel Bard, who Cubs picked up last week.

1.George Springer, New Britain/UConn, OF (Astros, Triple-A): Not much more can be said about Springer that hasn’t already been written about in this space. Quite simply, posted one of the greatest seasons in minor-league history (.303, 37 HRs, 108 RBIs, 45 steals) and appears on his way to big-league stardom.